Random Fan Theories About Purge Movies That May Answer All Of Your Lingering Questions (15 items)

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  (#1) The Purge's Real Purpose Is Population Control

  In the future, it's pretty probable the population will start to become a major burden on society – especially when you factor in future medical advancements that extend life. This is where the Purge comes in. According to Redditor/u/Willmatron, violence and murder is the preferred method of crime during the Purge because of population control.

  The purge eliminates the weak, the poor, and the homeless, leaving the cream of the crop to help society flourish.
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  (#2) The Purge Actually Has Some Rules

  Yes, the Purge supposedly means there are no laws for a 12-hour period. This allows people to murder, rob, and commit debauchery. Still, are all things actually illegal? One theory from TV Tropes states it's impossible for all laws to be lifted. If every single crime were legal, arsonists could burn down entire national parks; companies could take that one 12-hour period to cheaply dump all their toxic waste into the ocean.

  In addition, one of the movies mentions regulation about the type of firearms you can use and the type of government officials you're allowed to assault. Total lawlessness seems pretty unlikely.
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  (#3) Big Daddy Is Actually A High-Ranking Government Official

  We already know Big Daddy was a veteran who was very loyal to the New Founding Fathers of America. Why was he so loyal? One fan theory by Redditor/u/theBezerker13 alleges Big Daddy's actually a level 10 government official. His position in the government is the reason he can command SWAT units and troops of government-trained soldiers.

  He specifically targets the poor and minorities, like the government would want if they were trying to Purge the community of what they deem its least desirable citizens.
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  (#4) James And Mary Used To Participate In The Purge

  James and Mary have expressed their adamant distaste for the annual Purge, but one fan theory alleges James and Mary only came to their conclusion after participating. According to Redditor/u/Vlathrax, the evidence lies in how James hesitated when Charlie asked why the pair doesn't participate. James has also proven he's adept with using weapons - but how would he have learned?

  Mary, on the other hand, seems strangely comfortable talking about guns and hunting for invaders for a non-violent person that opposes the Purge.

   
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  (#5) Murder Is The Preferred Purge Crime Because It Has The Least Risk

  Anyone who's ever watched The Purge knows murder and assault are the primary crimes committed throughout the movie. Why? Because they pose the least risk. Other crimes have consequences that last beyond the 24-hour time limit.

  Redditor/u/Willmatron points out murder is a one-time crime; if you kill someone, it's over that day. If you steal a TV, you're still holding onto stolen property when the Purge ends (having stolen property is illegal). If you do drugs, those drugs show up on a drug test long after the Purge is over. In the Purge, murder is the least risky crime you can commit.
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  (#6) The Purge Is The Holy Grail For Kidnappers

  One fan theory suggests the Purge makes kidnapping a whole lot easier. Of course, you'd legally only be able to kidnap a person for 12 hours, but why bother letting them go? According to the theory, it's pretty likely the kidnapped person will be assumed dead after the violence from Purge night. In this way, the Purge enables kidnappers, so it's not really true that all crime would be lower – only certain crimes.
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  (#7) 'The Purge' Had A Shockingly Meaningful Ending

  There's been a lot of criticism about The Purge, mainly stemming from the fact some viewers didn't think the ending had enough of a resolve – but what if that's the point? One fan theory by Redditor/u/rhymeswithblorange alleges The Purge had a purposely unfulfilling ending to mimic the results of the actual Purge.

  "It's unfulfilling just like the concept of the Purge," they wrote. "You don't feel good at the end because the Purge itself doesn't bring about closure. People die during that period (supposedly bad people), but it doesn't make the event any better... The ending comes up short because it mirrors the unfulfilling concept of the Purge itself."
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  (#8) The Purge Actually Costs More Than It's Worth

  In The Purge, the economy is supposed to be booming. Unemployment is at a paltry 1%, a far cry from reality. How? It's pretty unlikely a Purge would actually be financially beneficial to any country. In this case, the government is probably lying about the benefits.

  Scott Meslow of The Week took a deep dive into the Purge's economics. Meslow discovered that Portland, OR, uses the bodies of people who died during the purge to power their mass transit system. New York offers housing subsidies to people who participate (instead of just offering subsidies to homeless or low-income families and bettering members of society rather than sloughing them off).

  But here's where it fails: Ethan Hawke's character. Hawke's character is one of the highest-ranking employees at the nation's largest security firm (a prime business in post-Purge times). He's killed during the Purge, which would’ve left a gap for an important role in the company and sent their stock (which is probably worth billions) tumbling down. That's just one person. What would it be like if you factor in every death, all the property damage, and the injuries that will need medical treatment long after the Purge ends for the year? The financial damage is incalculable. 
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  (#9) The Government Is Using The Purge To Kill Civilians – The Bad Guys Are The Heroes

  Redditor/u/jrinredcar has a very compelling theory for The Purge: Anarchy. Perhaps the bad guys aren't actually who you think they are. What if the government is actually using the Purge to knock off civilians, while the vigilantes are mostly trying to keep the government at bay? Despite the fact there are definitely some rogue criminals using the Purge to enact horrifying revenge, there's really nothing that shows the government isn't using the day to their advantage.

  We know crooked politicians in Election Year tried to use the Purge to help them succeed politically. The government also bussed trucks filled with mercenaries in during Anarchy, so what if the civilians doing the Purge are actually fighting off these government mercenaries rather than aimlessly committing crimes for fun? Jrinredcar believes this is the case. 
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  (#10) Contracts - Like Signing Over A House Or Car - Are Illegal During The Purge

  One fan theory claims that contracts aren't legal during the Purge. You can't sign over your house in a high stakes game of Russian Roulette; during Purge night, it's total anarchy. According to Redditor/u/jax9999, this likely means even the most mundane laws are temporarily lifted along with the big ones.

  "I'm betting there are no legal transactions permitted during Purge - like, you can't buy a house, or transfer ownership papers. The entirety of the law is temporarily lifted, even the mundane laws like torts and so on," they explained.
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  (#11) 'The Purge' Is A Sequel To 'Funny Games'

  Funny Games is one of the most disturbing movies of the '90s. One fan theory alleges The Purge is actually the gruesome film's sequel. Redditor/u/Alkasan thinks there's a major similarity to how the sadistic men in Funny Games appear calm and the general acceptance of the Purge. The annual Purge was enacted because it lowers crime and brings peace and harmony to America. What if the guys in Funny Games actually started The Purge? He explains:

  "What if [the] guys in [Funny Games] had a double life of being model sons of politicians and f*cked up murderers? If this assumption is correct, maybe the guys of Funny Games are not the only ones practicing this kind of game. As a whole generation of wealthy children, they inherit their parents' status into politics and make their way up to the top [with the] twisted desires of turning their 'sport' into a national holiday. Basically, these guys form part of a much larger group of young men that have the same desires. They access politics and instate the Purge as their legacy."
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  (#12) 'The Purge' Takes Place At The End Of Times Where An Antichrist Is Ruler Of The Land

  The Purge is pretty twisted, which is why one Redditor believes it takes place in a collapsed world where the Devil has come back to rule the land. The Purge may be set in the moments before Revelation actually takes place, and the country in the film may be run by an Antichrist-type figure.

  We already know the country was in chaos before the annual Purge was passed. This figure rose up and took power, but it's a lot more sinister than that. Redditor/u/Strike3r2k8 explains:

  "Participating in the Purge is accepting the mark of the beast. Everyone who accepts it becomes twisted and heartless. Their souls are no longer theirs. They are under the influence of 'him,' so no one is really to be trusted. Only people that remain sane and know that this whole society is wrong are those who are the victims of the Purge. They are against it, and therefore a threat to the Antichrist figure's plans, and so they are to be killed.

  So there: The Purge is a movie showing a world that collapsed and a country that has been taken over by a corrupt being with influence on the Politicians and others in power, yet no one knows it, and many have been indoctrinated without even realizing it. This explains why so many people seem to have no second thoughts as to why such a thing like the Purge would even pass."
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  (#13) 'The Purge' Is The Sequel To 'The Following'

  One fan theory alleges The Purge is actually the sequel to The Following. Kevin Bacon's character in The Following and Ethan Hawke's character in The Purge are mighty similar. Redditor/u/notveryethical believes Caroll's cult in The Following grows so much that it eventually leads to The Purge. They explain:

  "The only way the government would allow for the Purge to occur is if there is a sudden uncontrollable spike in murders being committed. Say Caroll's cult from The Following expands exponentially and starts getting more and more notorious members. And say it grows to the point where the FBI cannot handle the cult, or the FBI is infiltrated by the cult.

  With the Caroll influence in the FBI, an FBI agent will suggest the Purge. Years later, it will become law, as it is the only way to regulate the amount of murders being committed.

  At this point, Kevin Bacon has given up his crusade and decided to go with it. He creates a new identity and starts selling security systems. He already owns a pretty dope security system. Chances are he probably made it because he can't trust anybody."
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  (#14) 'The Purge' Is The Future Of 'The Walking Dead'

  The Walking Dead and The Purge don't have a whole lot in common unless you're just looking at gruesome murders – but what if you're missing the writing on the wall? One Redditor believes The Purge is actually the future of the world inside The Walking Dead.

  According to the theory, the zombie outbreak is more or less under control by the time the Purge takes place. The actual Purge acts as the nation's safeguard against another zombie hoard; it eliminates weak people who may become zombies when they die. The reason everyone gets shot in the head is so they won't rise again.
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  (#15) 'High School Musical' Takes Place In The World Of 'The Purge'

  High School Musical isn't as PG as it appears - do you really think a group of teens would never partake in physical intimacy, dabble in drinking, or at the very least talk about these things? Heck no! According to one theory from Lauren Le Vine, the reasons the teens in High School Musical aren't focused on this stuff is because they get to act out all their wildest fantasies during The Purge.

  In addition, Le Vine argues the world of High School Musical is only sugary sweet on the surface, much like the society of The Purge. Look at how Mr. Darbus applied to Juilliard for Troy by impersonating him (this is definitely illegal). Or consider how Troy and Chad stole two younger students' clothes, forcing them to run around naked. These kids faced no consequences. Is the world of The Purge only full of harmony 364 days of the year because no one points out minor indiscretions when an entire day dedicated to murder is looming?

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